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Apparatus for the Manufaotureof Sodium Gar-b0nat-g No; 240,995.

'Patem'ed- May 3,1881;

N. PETERS. PhotuLithographer. Washington, D. C.

Apparatusfor the Manufacture of Sodium Carbonate. -No. 240,995. I Pate' ted May 3,188L

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Witnerseyp Q h I I V r4. PETERS, Phctu-Lilhogmpher, Washington, a, c,

M, F J GERSTEN tj 4SheeQ-Shet3. Apparatus for the Manufacture ofSodium Carbonate! Patented May 3, 1 881.

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..... .VWT d. i :5; g E i I Jitgarne z/ M ERl 4Sheets-s Apparatus for the Manufacture of Sodium Carbonate.

No. 240,99 Patented May 3,1881. I

N4 PEIERS, Pholo-Lithagrapher, Washingtu n. D. C.

solution, the results of the chemical reactions forced over to a coke-tower, B, preferably sup- Un'rrno STATES PATENT rrrcn.

MORITZ F. J. GERSTENHOFER, OF FBIEDEBURG, NEAR FREIBEBG, SAXONY,

GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SODIUM CARBONATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,995, dated May 3, 1881. Application filed October 29, 1879.

To all whom it may concern: plied at the top with a shower apparatus, by Be it known that I, Moar'rz FLORIAN J 0- which the brine is distributed over alarge area. SEPH GERs'rENHt FER, of Friedeburg, near The wasted ammonia-gas, if any should leave Freiberg, in the Kingdom of Saxony, German the next apparatus, passes upward in this Empire, have invented a new and useful lmtower and is absorbed entirely by the brine. provement in Apparatus for the Manufacture The latter is collected at the bottom of the of Soda by the so-called Ammonia-SodaProtower in a reservoir, 0, and is then pumped cess, of which the followingisaspecification. into the universal apparatus D. There are It is known that if a pure solution of salt five of the universal apparatus used alterbrine is thoroughly mixed with bicarbonate of nately for a fourfold purpose. Each consists ammonia in solution, or if ammonia and carof an air-tight cylindrical sheet-iron vessel,D, bonic-acid gas are used alternately in such a nearly twice as high as its diameter, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 on a large scale. It is supplied with a three-way pipe, to, the top branch of which passes through the center to the bottom of the cylinder, where it connects with a wider cylinder, d. In this cylinder are screwed a large number of small perforated pipes, 01 closed at the end and placed in radial position, reaching not quite to the circumference of the cylinder. The ammonia-gas from a still, E, of manufacture; and the improvement consists and the carbonic-acid gas received from a limein the improved construction of apparatus, and kiln, F, are alternately forced through these in the combination and relative arrangement pipes after the cylinder has been charged with of apparatus,whereby the processis conducted brine from the coke-tower, according to the in an uninterrupted series of operationsin airopening or closing of the respective valves. tight vessels, and connected together in such The universal apparatus has another pipe, manner that the excess of ammonia may be (P, passing through the top down to the botused over and over again during the continuatom and curled around the bottom in one coil, tion of the process.

that part of the pipe being also perforated. In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is Through this pipe the carbonic-acid gas from a horizontal section through a building and a calcining-cylinder, G, Figs. 1 and 2, and a my apparatus located therein. Fig.2 is averheater, H, is passed through the brine. tical longitudinal section with the apparatus Around the circumference on the inside of in elevation, showing their combination, arrangement, and connection. Fig. 3 is an enthe cylinder of the universal apparatus is a closely-coiled pipe, (1*, used as a refrigerator to larged vertical sectional view of one of the uni versal apparatus detached; Fig. 4., a horizonreduce the temperature produced by the chemital section of the base of the same in the line cal reaction.

w 00 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a detached vertical lonproduced are bicarbonate of soda and chloride of ammonia. The former is nearlyinsoluble in the liquor of the latter, and is therefore separable. The ammoniacan then be recovered.

The object of my invention is to produce monocarbonate of soda, and avoid, as nearly as possible,the loss of ammonia in the process Six valves in the top of each apparatus and near its connecting-pipes permit the gases to gitudinal section through the calcining apparatus; Fig. 6, a vertical section through the enter or escape, as need be, through the series of pipes connected with the other universal apheater and still connected with each other, as hereinafter described. Fig. 7 is a perspective paratus, according to the period required for view of the coiled pipe and tangential jets located in the still, showing such pipe and jets each apparatus. A pipe, 01 and cook cl near the bottom allow the contents tobe discharged detached. v

As represented in the ground plan, Fig. 2,

to the stirring apparatus I I.

A suitable steam-pipe permits steam to he introduced to clean the apparatus after its and elevation,Fi g. 1 the plant consists, mainly,

various duties have been performed. A manof a brine tank, A, from which the brine is hole also gives access to the apparatus inside, and safety-valves guard against overpressure.

Five of the universal apparatus are preferably used, and are represented by D D -D D D in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

The operation of this universal apparatus is as follows At the beginning of the operation four of the compartments, D D D D, are filled with brine which has absorbed the last waste gases from the coke-tower, and consequently contain salt brine containing small quantities of carbonate of ammonia, or, probably, sometimes a little excess of either gas, ammonia, or carbonic acid. The operation then is divided into successive periods.

In the first period the first cylinder, D, receives ammonia-gas and sufficient carbonicacid gas to form monocarbonate of ammonia, which, with the brine, forms the con ten ts of the compartment. The second and third com partmen ts or cylinders, D and D act as absorbers for waste gases of the same character, and contain, therefore, principally brine and some gases or carbonate of ammonia. The fourth compartment, D, contains only brine.

In the second period the first compartment, D, receives the balance of carbonic-acid gas to produce bicarbonate of ammonia, which, by reaction on thebrine,produces bicarbonateofsoda and chloride of ammonia; the second compartment, D, receives ammonia-gas and sutficient carbonic acid to form monocarbonate of ammonia, as in first period; the third and fourth act as absorbers of the universal apparatus, and if need be produce a still more perfect chemical reaction. After it has settled a portion of the solution, consisting of chloride of ammonia, &c., is discharged through the pipes into the pressurethrongh a closed trough provided with a feed-screw into the centrifugal machines L L, eight of which are employed. Here, by centrifugal force, the precipitate of bicarbonate of sodais entirely separated from the liquor, which is also run to the pressuretank K, mentioned before. The contents of the pressure-tank are discharged therefrom by the direct application of steam or compressed air above the surface of the liquid, and may be raised to any required height. This simple means may be employed in any apparatus where it from a lower to a higher elevation.

The bicarbonate from the transported to the apparatus. large scale in Fig. 5, and consists of a long horizontal iron cylinder, G, through the center of which passes a shaft, kept tight by stufiing-boxes. This shaft is provided with segments to propel and rakes to mix the bicarbonate intimately while it is carried from the rear to the front of the cylinder. At the rear en (1 another smaller feedscrew, g, is buried in the bicarbonate contained in the hopper, which delivers the same into the cylinder. At the front end of the cylinder being now converted into monocarbonate of soda, is delivered into another closed hopper, y from which, by means of a fluted roller, 9

hopper g of the calcining compartment, D is now charged with brine.

In the third period the first compartment, D, is emptied and cleaned, the second compartment, D receives the balance of carbonic-acid gas to form bicarbonate of ammonia, and the same reaction as in first compartment takes place, while the third compartment now acts as absorber of ammonia and carbonic-acid gas, and therefore its contents are the same as the preceding compartment in the preceding period. fifth compartments act now as receivers of waste gases, the fifth having previously been charged with brine, as stated.

In the fourth rear of the hopper, so much of the material is discharged as will be inclosed between the grooves of the roller, thus preventing the air from entering the calcining apparatus. The whole cylinder is placed inside of a furnace, G and by heat the pelled. This passes it is exhausted, into a refrigerator, M, and by pressure from a pressure-tan k, K, is forced back into the universal apparatus to be used over again. The monocarbonate discharged passes a pair of rollers, which prepare it for packing.

The chloride of ammonia, which contains also a portion of bicarbonate of ammonia, is treated in a still. "his consists of a primary heater, H, which is with a steam-worm and an automatic condenser at the bottom. Here, by proper temperature, all the carbonic acid is first expelled, and enters at once the universal apparatus. At the proper time the liquor is discharged by pipe h into the main still. This consists, also, of an iron cylinder, E, conical at the bottom, provided with a vertical feed-screw, c, at the top, to charge the caustic lime, which screw is carried bya vertical rod turning in afeed-cyl' period the third compartment nia, these last contents being discharged from each compartment to the agitators I through and the compartment, after being cleaned, is charged with fresh brine to recommence the operation.

The agitators are each formed of a cylindrical tube with an air-tight top, through the stutfing-box of which a vertical shaft enters the tube. This shaft is provided with a number of arms to agitate theliquor received from chines is discharged into closed tubes and This apparatus is shown upon a the bicarbonate,

working in close contact up to the bottom andan iron boiler provided inder E and rovided with a conical valve I e at its bottom, and a screw-thread near its top, and passing through a screw-threaded aperture in the top of the chamber E whereby the feed-cylinder may be closed when the cylinder E is charged, to prevent the escape of gas. lVhen the screw is used for feeding the rod is run down so that its screw-thread escapes from the threaded passage at the top of the still, the head E rests upon the collar E and the screw may then be turned freely. When the valve is to be closed the rod is drawn up and turned to engage the rod in its screw-thread, in which it may be screwed up to tightly close the valve.

The still contains a steam-worm, E, and a pipe, E, which is coiled at its lower end, and is provided with a number of right-angled nozzles, 0, set upright and tangentially to the coiled end of the pipe, so as to discharge tangential jets, whereby a circular motion is imparted to the liquor to prevent the formation or collection of sediment. The chloride of ammonia is here decomposed and the ammonia volatilized, which, after passing a rectificator, N, and a dephlegmator, O, to be concentrated and dried, is forced back into the universal apparatus by the pipe d to take its place again in a new turn.

What I claim is- 1. In an apparatus for the manufacture of monocarbonate of soda, the combination of the brine-tank A, the coke-tower B, the reservoir 0, the universal apparatus 1), and the ammonia and carbonic-acid generators, connected by suitable pipes having air-tight connections, the whole constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In combination with the brine-tank, coketower, reservoir, universal apparatus, and the ammoniaand carbonic-acid generators, the agitators I, suitable pipes for connecting the latter with said universal apparatus, the pressuretanks K, and pipes for connecting with the said agitators and the centrifugal machines L, and pipes for connecting the latter with said pressure-tanks, whereby the said agitators are adapted to receive the precipitate from the generator for thepurpose of mixing it more thoroughly with and then draining ofi most of the chloride of ammonia liquor from the same, substantially as specified.

3. In combination with the brine-tank, coketower, reservoir, and universal apparatus, and the ammonia and carbonic-acid gas generators,

the agitators and pressure-tanks K, the latter being connected by suitable pipes and air-tight connections with the primary heater H, whereby the chloride of ammonia formed, and any carbonic acid contained in solution therein, may be transferred to the heater H, wherein the carbonic acid and chloride of ammonia are separated for further use, substantially as specified.

4. In combination with the brine-tank, coketower, reservoir, and universal apparatus, and the agitators, pressure-tanks K, and centrifugal machines L, the calcining apparatus to receive the bicarbonate of soda, leaving the centrifugal machine for the purpose of calcining said bicarbonate and converting it into monocarbonate of soda, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for the manufacture of monocarbonate of soda, the combination, with the still E, of the feeding apparatus consist. iug of the cylinder E inclosed vessel E and feed screw 0, operated by a rod extending through the Wall of said inclosed vessel, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the still, of the branch pipe extending within said still to near the bottom thereof, and terminating in a coiled portion provided with a number of projecting nozzles, e, bent at right angles to discharge tangential jets, whereby a rapid circular .motion is imparted to the liquor to prevent a collection of sediment at the bottom of the still.

7. In combination with the retort G and its feed mechanism, the chamber G and air-tight discharge mechanism, consisting of the inclosed hopper g and the fluted roller 9 working in close contact with the wall of said hopper on each side of its discharge-opening, and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes specified.

MORI'IZ FLORIAN JOSEPH GERSTENHUFER. Witnesses:

REOHTSAAWALT ULRICH HEISTERBERGK, BERGRAFT CLEMENT WINKLER. 

